NotebookLM

Google source-grounded research notebook for chat, summaries, audio, video and study tools

AI Assistants & Chatbots AI Research & Knowledge Tools Tested

Research-based score

4.8

Tested

Features and capabilities4.9

Current Google sources verify source-grounded chat with citations, Deep Research, Audio and Video Overviews, reports, flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, slide decks, infographics, mobile apps and Gemini app sync.

Usability and implementation4.8

The product is designed around uploaded or connected source material and current G2 reviewers strongly praise grounded synthesis, study materials and Audio Overviews, though the review base is still small.

Pricing and value transparency4.6

Standard is free and Google AI Plus and Pro monthly prices are public; current Ultra usage limits are published but a stable numerical Ultra price was not reliably exposed in the retrieved public pricing result, so SearchSagar leaves it unverified.

Integrations, security and trust4.9

Google states that Workspace Gemini Notebook uploads, queries and responses are not reviewed by humans or used to train models, with Workspace admin and privacy controls inherited from Google Workspace.

Scored by Surabhi Singh

Quick facts

Vendor: Google
Pricing model: freemium
Plan pricing: Free Standard plan; Google AI Plus is USD 9.99/month
Free plan: Yes — check limits
Free trial: Not confirmed
Last verified: 9/24/2026

About NotebookLM

NotebookLM was renamed Gemini Notebook on 16 July 2026, but SearchSagar preserves the existing NotebookLM product code and slug for importer continuity. The current Google product is a source-grounded research and learning workspace that answers questions with inline citations, synthesizes documents and media, runs Deep Research and generates Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, reports, flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, slide decks and infographics.

Best for

Students, researchers, analysts and knowledge workers who want AI answers grounded in a defined collection of documents, websites, videos and other source material rather than open-ended unsourced chat.

NotebookLM pros and cons

Pros

G2 reviewers praise NotebookLM for answering from supplied sources instead of behaving like a generic chatbot, which helps users verify claims with citations.
The current product goes beyond chat with Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, reports, flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, infographics and slide-oriented outputs.
Deep Research can gather and synthesize broader material while keeping the resulting research inside the notebook workflow.
Google supports many source types, including Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, text, Markdown, websites, pasted text, public YouTube videos and audio files.
Google states that Workspace uploads, queries and responses are not reviewed by humans or used to train models, improving suitability for organizational knowledge work.

Cons

−The July 2026 rename from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook can create confusion because older links, reviews and third-party references still use the NotebookLM brand.
−G2's current 4.9/5 score is based on only 14 reviews, so it should not be treated as broad market validation.
−Standard plan limits can be restrictive for heavy research, especially 50 sources per notebook and 50 chats per day under current September 2026 limits.
−Some G2 reviewers want better source organization, editing and customization of generated outputs rather than only consuming AI-produced artifacts.
−The largest Ultra tiers publish generous usage limits, but current numerical Ultra pricing was not reliably exposed in the retrieved public pricing result and can vary with Google's broader AI-plan packaging.

Features

Flashcards and Quizzes

Standard and higher with plan-specific daily limits · Users should verify generated questions and answers for important assessments.

Reports and Study Guides

Standard and higher with daily limits · Generated structure should still be reviewed for completeness and source interpretation.

Audio Overviews

Standard and higher with daily generation limits · Daily limits vary from Standard through Ultra.

Source-Grounded Chat

Standard and higher with plan-specific chat limits · Answers remain dependent on the quality and completeness of the notebook sources.

Deep Research

Standard and higher with substantially larger paid limits · Monthly or daily research limits vary by subscription.

Video Overviews

Standard and higher; cinematic generation requires higher tiers · Video and cinematic limits vary by plan.

Slide Decks and Infographics

Current Gemini Notebook experience · Generated visuals and narrative should be reviewed before external publication.

Mobile Apps

Standard and higher · Some advanced creation features can arrive on web before mobile.

Gemini App Sync

Supported Google accounts · Availability and account eligibility can vary.

Mind Maps

Standard and higher · Mind-map quality reflects the organization and coverage of source material.

Platforms

AndroidWebiOS

Integrations

Google Drive Google Classroom Gemini YouTube Google Docs Google Slides

Pricing

Gemini Notebook Standard

Free

USD 0.00/month with annual billing

Permanent free access with core source-grounded research and creation limits. Limit: 50 sources/notebook Limit: 50 chats/day Limit: Lower artifact and research limits than paid tiers Billing unit: per user Minimum seats: 1

Google AI Plus

USD 9.99/month

Entry paid Google AI plan with materially higher Gemini Notebook limits. Limit: Plan packaging can differ by market Billing unit: per user/month Minimum seats: 1 Minimum commitment: Monthly under current public price

Google AI Pro

USD 19.99/month

Higher-capacity research tier with larger source, chat and artifact limits. Limit: Regional pricing and bundled Google One benefits can differ Billing unit: per user/month Minimum seats: 1 Minimum commitment: Monthly under current public price

Google AI Ultra 20 TB

See pricing details

High-capacity Google AI Ultra configuration with substantially expanded Gemini Notebook limits. Limit: Current numerical public price was not reliably exposed in the retrieved pricing result Billing unit: per user/month Minimum seats: 1

Google AI Ultra 30 TB

See pricing details

Highest published Gemini Notebook usage configuration in the current limit table. Limit: Current numerical public price was not reliably exposed in the retrieved pricing result Billing unit: per user/month Minimum seats: 1

Official pricing / availability source · Checked 23 September 2026. Confirm current taxes, regional terms and allowances. A listed plan is not necessarily the cheapest option.

Editorial verification: 9/24/2026. Check the vendor's site for current pricing.

Alternatives to NotebookLM

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SciSpace

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Scite

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NotebookLM — frequently asked questions

Is NotebookLM now called Gemini Notebook?

Yes. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on 16 July 2026 while keeping it as the same standalone research product. SearchSagar preserves the existing NotebookLM product name, code and slug for importer continuity, but current product, pricing and limits in this record follow Google's Gemini Notebook documentation and September 2026 plan updates.

What is NotebookLM used for?

NotebookLM, now Gemini Notebook, is used to research and learn from a defined set of sources. Users can ask cited questions across documents, websites, videos and audio, run Deep Research and generate Audio or Video Overviews, reports, flashcards, quizzes, mind maps and visual learning artifacts. Its core advantage is grounding responses in notebook material.

How much does NotebookLM cost?

Gemini Notebook has a permanent free Standard tier. Current Google One pricing lists Google AI Plus at USD 9.99 per month and Google AI Pro at USD 19.99 per month, both with higher notebook, source and generation limits. Google also publishes larger Ultra usage tiers, but SearchSagar leaves their numerical prices unverified rather than using an unstable or incomplete public rate.

What files and sources can NotebookLM use?

Google currently supports sources including Google Docs, Google Slides, PDFs, text and Markdown files, pasted text, web URLs, public YouTube URLs and audio files. A single source can contain up to roughly 500,000 words or 200 MB under current Workspace guidance. Per-notebook source limits vary from 50 on Standard to 600 on the highest listed Ultra tier.

Does Google train AI models on NotebookLM data?

For Google Workspace users, Google states that uploaded files, queries and generated responses are not reviewed by humans or used to train generative AI models outside the organization without permission. For personal accounts, Google says data is not used for training unless users provide feedback under the applicable service rules. Organizations should still follow their own data-governance policies.

What do G2 reviewers say about NotebookLM?

G2 rates Google NotebookLM 4.9 out of 5 from 14 reviews. Reviewers praise source-grounded synthesis, combining multiple documents, Audio Overviews, mind maps and study-material generation. Reported limitations include source-management friction and limited editing or customization of some generated outputs. Because the review count is small, SearchSagar treats the rating as directional rather than broad validation.